Dampening fountain for printing presses



July 25; 1950 w. w. DAVIDSON ETAL 2,516,757

DAMPENING FOUNTAIN FOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed June 23, 1947 azz/card meld 425 fuZZELu U patented Juiy 25, 195G DAMPENING FOUNTAIN FOR PRINTING PRESSES William Ward Davidson, Evanston, and Edward F. Dell, Chicago, Ill., assignors to Davidson Manufacturing Corporation, Chicago, IlL, a corporation of Illinois Application June 23, 1947, Serial No. 756,498

3 Claims.

This invention relates, generally, to improvements in dampening units for offset printing presses and it has particular relation to improvements in dampening fountains for use in such units whereby they may be used in connection with printing presses carried on an unsteady platform, such as the deck of a ship, without loss of the fountain solution by splashing or spilling.

Offset printing presses are well-known and extensively used. These machines include dampening units whereby the water receptive areas of the printing plate may be repeatedly moistened with the fountain solution.

Known dampening units have not been suitable for use in connection with printing presses which are mounted on unsteady platforms, such as the decks of ships. Except when periods of unusually calm weather prevail, the pitch and roll of a ship are such that the fountain solution splashes out of the conventional dampening fountain which forms a part of the known types of dampening units,

The object of the present invention, generally stated, is the provision of new and improved dampening units adapted to be associated with printing presses mounted on unsteady platforms, such as the decks of ships, with the dampening units being so constructed that the moistening solution is retained in dampening fountains of novel construction, which are almost completely enclosed, whereby the dampening units may be subjected to considerable tilting in diiferent directions without the moistening solution being spilled or splashed out of the fountains.

Certain other objects of the invention will, in part, be obvious and will, in part, appear hereinafter.

For a more complete understanding of the nature and scope of our invention, reference may now be had to the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a partly diagrammatic, side-elevational View of a dampening unit for an offset printing press and made in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary, elevational view, partly in section, showing the manner in which the moistening solution is prevented from spilling or splashing when the dampening unit of Figure 1 is tilted to one side; and

Figure 3 is an enlarged, sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

.lln Figure 1 of the drawings, a dampening unit is indicated generally at 5, which is adapted to be mounted for operation on an offset printing press. The reference character 6 designates the frame or body of the dampening unit 5, and is so shaped as to be readil mounted on a printing press, such as shOWn and described in Patent No. 2,387,750, issued October 30, 1945.

A dampening fountain l is supported by the frame 6. The dampening fountain 1 comprises a liquid tight cylindrical housing in which a tank roll 8 is disposed. The housing is formed by a cylindrical section ll] (Figure 2), the opposite ends of which are closed by end walls or members I I, l I. A slot extends across the top of the housing and is formed by cutting away part of the cylinder EU, as indicated at l2, l2 in Figure 3.

A tank roll 8 is provided with stub shafts I3, l3 on the opposite ends thereof which project into sockets M, I l in the end walls H, H. It will be noted that the tank roll 8 is mounted so that the axis of rotation thereof which extends through stub shafts I3 is somewhat above the axis of the housing in which it is mounted. The uppermost portion of the surface of the tank roll 8 projects through the opening formed in the top of the housing and, except for a narrow clearance to permit free rotation thereof, otherwise closes off this slot opening, as shown in Figures 2 and 3.

The dampening fountain is supplied with moistening solution through the inlet connection l5 adjacent the bottom thereof, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. A well I6 is provided on the top of the inlet connection It: and serves to receive the outlet projection ll of a bottle I8 of a fountain solution. This arrangement maintains the level of the moistening solution within the dampening fountain at approximately the top level of the inlet connection It. The arrangement of the bottle it in the manner described provides for maintaining the liquid level in the fountain at a substantially predetermined level above the inlet connection l5. The pressure of atmosphere acting on the surface area of the liquid in the fountain serves to maintain the supply liquid in the inverted bottle it, and upon lowering of the level in the fountain, as upon depletion of the liquid inthe fountain by printing operations, below the inlet connection l5 air enters the bottle [8 displacing liquid therein and replenishing the fountain so that the predetermined level of the liquid is maintained in the latter. The arrangement of the above described liquid feed is a well known expedient in various arts and are adaptations or variations of the well known Torricelli principle. The moistening solution occupies the space underneath the lower portion of the tank roll 8 and the bottom of the housing, as indicated in Figures 1 and Z.

In order to reduce splashing cf the moistening solution within. the fountain housing 1 as the dampening unit is tilted from side-to-side, as it would he on board plurality of baffles 23 are provided underneath the tank roll 8. The baiiies 29 are parallel to each other and extend crosswise of the enclosed housing or dampening fountain '2. It will be observed that mechanical clearance is provided between the upper arcuate edges or the hafile 23 and the cylindrical surface of the tank roll through which the moistening or dampening solu ion may pass so that the liquid levels in the several compartments defined lay the baffles 251 and the tank housing are maintained sub tantially t e same. Should this clearance he insufiicient :ther opening means, such as shown at 53 in Figure 3, may be formed the haiiles to facilitate passage of the dampenfluid between the several sections in the tank housing to maintain the liquid in the several sections at sub-stan tia the same level. The opening 59 may he of so is size to serve the aforementioned purpose without destroying the utility of the baffles for sloshing of the dampening solution the tanl. The action of the haiiies 29 in reducing the sp ing and transfer tion illustrated in Figure 1 shown to partition the the tank roll 8.

ro is supported in the frame in he uppermost'porprojects hrough the openin or t e enclosed dampening fountain Ihe fount roll 2% ma we provided with mudin cover so as to increase the frictio lent be ween it and the tank r0118. Suitable driving means (not shown) drive the ioun roll 2 i, which in turn drives the tank roll. manner. moistening solution is t. transferred tom the roll all to the surface of the cunt. i

A duster rotatable ant. founten roll a dist: roll In Figure .CilCllOl roll shown in engagement with the distributor roll and in broken outline is shown to he in engagement with the fountainroll 5. 1.

Moisture is transferred the distributor roll 23 to the form roller The fountain roll 21, and the associated ductor roll distributor roll 23 and form roller 2 -3 are all driven by knowmocha a n, such as described in Patent No. 2,387,750.

The dampening unit 5 should be so designed that it may be tilted from side-to-side, in-the manner illus :1 Figure 2, at least without the moistening solution being spilled or splashed out of the dampening fountain, and with the dampening unit performing its function satisfac orily during such tilting from side-toside. he roll of ship 11 not usuall exceed 10 and'a printing press carried thereon should be disposed so that the dampening fountain is parallel to the of the ship.

The dampening fountain l is so designed that it may he substituted for the conventional trough type fountain a dampening unit, such as unit ,.e t make use of existing damplg substitution.

opening fountain I may be e .eilles 29 and the end closures ening units by If desired, the i: so designedthat (-rigure is provided which is d H are readily removable, thereby facilitating the cleaning of the fountain from time to time. The details of several arrangements for making these parts removable will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

It will be understoodthat certain modifications may he made in the construction of the dampening unit 5 and that the invention may be embodied in other forms of dampening units suitable for attachment to offset printing presses, witziout departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.

What is claimed as new is:

1. In a dampening unit for an ofiset printing press, an enclosed dampening fountain which comprises, in combination, a. cylindrical housing having a narrow opening extending lengthwise in the top thereof, tank roll disposed in said housing and having diameter somewhat less than that of said housing, hearing support means for said'tank roll whereby the longitudinal axis about which it rotates parallel to and above that of said hous n the uppermost segment of the surface of said roll is exposed through said narrow openin a plurality of baffles extending cross- W186 of said housing between the latter and said tanl: roll, and said hafiles having arcuate upper edges r sposed closely adjacent the outer cylindrical s ace of said tank roll.

'2. Ln a dampening unit for an offset printing an 'e clozed dampening fountain which comprises, in com'oi an elongated housing for containing a dampening medium, said housing upper portion substantiall in a form of a cylindrical segment with there being a narrow elongated opening extending lengthwise therein, a tank roll disposed in said housing and having a diameter less the depth of said housin hearing support means for said tank roll for supporting the latter with its longitudinal axis extendingparallel to and disposed between the elongated opening and longitudinal axisof said housing riththe uppermost segment of the cylindrical surface of said roll exposed through said 'eioi. ted opening, a plurality of baii'ies extending of said housing between the latter and saidztank roll, and baiiles having arcuate upper edges closely adjacent the cylindrical surface of the tank roll.

Theccmbination as called forxin claim 2 wherein the uppermost segment of the surface of n1: roll narrow opening in juxtaposition 0"" the edges defil .ng the opening so as .tiaily close. the same,

WILLIAM WARD DAVIDSON. EDVV'ARD F. DELL REFEREN {JETED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 34,359 Glyde -Feb. 11, 1862 899,999 French Oct. 3, 1905 1,898,616 Sargent Nov. 14, 1911 1,031,625 Calian July 2, 1912 1,042,298 Ward et al. Oct. 22, 1912 1,309,501 Williams July 8, 1919 1,508,469 Osgood Sept. 16 1924 1,762,277 Schweiger June 10, 1930 1,981,829 Rutksskie et a1 June 5, 1934 2,142,348 -Dornseiier Jan. 3, 1939 2144,9242 King Jan. 24, 1939 2,387,750 Davidson Oct. 30, i945 

